Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) may be using Nepal as a backdoor for launching attacks on India. Here’s why their growing influence and Pakistan’s shadow strategy call for immediate countermeasures.
Alarming Warnings from Nepal on Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Backdoor Infiltration Threat
India faces a new kind of threat, one that doesn’t emerge from traditional flashpoints like Kashmir or Punjab but through the quiet, overlooked plains of Nepal. Senior figures in Nepal have issued warnings that terror groups based in Pakistan, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), may be preparing to use Nepalese soil as a transit route into Indian territory.
This isn’t a new border dispute or ideological feud; it’s a covert security crisis in the making. What was once a cultural and economic bridge is now being flagged as a possible launching pad for terrorist infiltration into Indian states. These groups, already responsible for multiple attacks on Indian soil, are reportedly shifting tactics by using softer targets and lesser-guarded routes.
Nepal’s geography, especially its rugged terrain and loosely monitored borders, provides a perfect cover. With limited surveillance infrastructure in some regions, it becomes easier for trained operatives to move undetected.
Nepal’s Open Border: A Strategic Weakness for India
India and Nepal share a nearly 1,850 km open border, which has been historically maintained without visas or passports. While this has fostered strong social, cultural, and trade ties, it also creates vulnerabilities for national security.
Terror networks like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are known to exploit weak borders, and Nepal’s geographical layout, coupled with limited surveillance infrastructure, offers just that. It’s now feared that these groups may use Nepal not only for smuggling and logistics but to insert operatives for terror plots inside India quietly.
This route becomes particularly dangerous because of its psychological and logistical advantage. An attack launched via Nepal would catch India off guard, forcing the nation to divert security resources and revise its entire eastern border defence strategy. The implications are serious and deeply strategic.
Nepalese Officials Raise Red Flags
Key voices within Nepal’s government have issued stern warnings. Senior presidential adviser Sunil Bahadur Thapa expressed serious concern that Pakistan-linked groups are planning to exploit Nepal’s open access to India. These aren’t vague hypotheticals—they reflect real risks identified by Nepal’s internal agencies.
Former Defence Minister Dr. Minendra Rijal warned that such activities could not only endanger India but also destabilise Nepal itself. In a rare alignment across party lines, political leaders have urged Nepal to prevent becoming a pawn in someone else’s proxy war.
Parliamentarian Shisir Khanal also highlighted the possibility of terror financing and sleeper networks quietly activating across the open border zones. These officials are urging immediate bilateral action to prevent long-term damage.
India’s Tactical Blind Spot and Strategic Response
India does engage with Nepal through intelligence sharing and military cooperation, but the current systems are outdated and lack the real-time responsiveness needed in today’s dynamic security environment.
While Indian forces have ramped up border patrols and surveillance in some eastern states, much of the Indo-Nepal border remains unguarded, particularly in areas with difficult terrain or heavy local movement. The absence of biometric checks and digital surveillance across large swaths leaves a gaping hole in India’s counterterrorism framework.
India must now treat the Indo-Nepal border with the same level of urgency as its western frontier. Coordinated patrols, advanced surveillance tech, and better coordination between central and state intelligence agencies are critical.
Geopolitical Tug-of-War: The China and Pakistan Factor
Nepal has recently deepened its ties with both China and Pakistan—a shift that has not gone unnoticed. High-level visits, infrastructure investments, and diplomatic exchanges have changed the power dynamic in Kathmandu. While Nepal maintains official neutrality, the tilt has been felt.
In this geopolitical shuffle, Pakistan may be looking to use Nepal as a quiet staging ground for its proxies, especially Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Terror networks thrive where borders are soft and political wills are divided.
China’s growing presence in Nepal through road projects, telecom, and energy investments complicates India’s influence. This changing equation could lead to a lack of cooperation in matters where India’s security is at stake. India must remain diplomatic but firm, signalling that any indirect aggression—whether through smuggling, sleeper cells, or cyber links—will be met with calculated resistance.
The Real-World Impact if This Threat Materialises
If even one coordinated strike were to occur via Nepal, the fallout would be immense, not just in terms of lives lost, but also the erosion of trust between the two countries.
Affected Indian states, particularly Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, would be the first to suffer from any such breach. Beyond immediate security, it could destabilise political relationships, trade channels, and cross-border movement for thousands of families who rely on daily transit.
Tourism, pilgrimage routes, and traditional markets could all face clampdowns. Public confidence would erode, and a hardening of border policies could eventually follow, undoing decades of open-border diplomacy.
What Needs to Happen Immediately
This is not a time for diplomatic politeness—it’s a moment for precision and preparedness. India must take the following strategic steps without delay:
| Priority Action | Why It’s Critical |
|---|---|
| Establish permanent joint patrol bases along high-risk sectors | To ensure a rapid response to any cross-border movement |
| Implement AI-backed surveillance systems | Especially in forested and unguarded regions |
| Sign binding security treaties with Nepal | To ensure both sides treat infiltration as a mutual threat |
| Train local communities as early-warning assets | To support intelligence collection at the grassroots level |
| Tighten immigration protocols at border crossings | To cut off human trafficking and terrorist movement |
| Expand counter-terror task forces along eastern districts | To keep pace with multi-directional threats |
The Border of Peace Must Not Become a Gateway to Chaos
The open Indo-Nepal border should be a symbol of shared heritage, not a channel for militants and saboteurs. The recent warnings from within Nepal’s top leadership show that both countries are aware of what’s at stake.
Now it comes down to action.
India must fortify its border strategy, extend diplomatic cooperation without compromise, and prepare to shut down any attempt to exploit its eastern flank. Let us not wait for a wake-up call—let us act on the warnings now, while time is still on our side.
Because when it comes to national security, prevention isn’t just better than a cure. It’s the only cure.
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